Construction Materials Dip for Second Consecutive Month

Prices for inputs to the construction industry fell 0.9 percent in August after shedding 0.1 percent in July. Inputs to nonresidential construction behaved similarly, losing 0.8 percent for the month and 4.7 percent for the year.

On a year-over-year basis, prices were down 3.9 percent for the month and have fallen by at least 2.8 percent in each month this year. Prices have now fallen on a yearly basis in nine consecutive months, the longest such streak since March to November of 2009.

“Commodity markets were particularly frenzied in August due to a series of events in China, Brazil, Iran and other parts of the world,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The result is that input prices continue to slide lower, defying predictions from earlier this year suggesting that commodity prices would stabilize and at some point head higher. Global demand remains low and there is a chance that prices could fall even lower during the months ahead.

“This is good news for most contractors, with the obvious exception being those in commodity-rich communities,” said Basu. “Already, North Dakota, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Alaska are deemed to be at risk of recession, and the ongoing slide in commodity prices will only serve to further weaken those economies and suppress overall construction activity.”

Only three key input prices rose in August. The key input prices that increased in August are:

Prepared asphalt, tar roofing and siding expanded 2.2 percent for the month and 2.4 percent for the year.

Natural gas prices expanded 2.2 percent on a monthly basis but are down 29.2 percent for the year.

Plumbing fixtures and fittings expanded 0.2 percent from July and are up 1.2 percent from August 2014.

The key input prices that fell or remained flat include:

Crude energy materials prices fell 9.5 percent in August and are down 40.5 percent from the same time last year.

Fabricated structural metal product prices remained unchanged for the month and are down 0.4 percent on the year.

Iron and steel prices fell 2.9 percent for the month and 17.6 percent for the year.

Prices for steel mill products fell 0.7 percent from last month and 14.1 percent from last year.

Nonferrous wire and cable prices are down 1.1 percent in August and 6.9 percent from the same time last year.